What are your rights if your flight is cancelled?

• For flights of less than 1,500km, a two-hour delay entitles you to refreshments 
• Airlines are not liable for flights cancelled due to bad weather or strike action

Peak holiday season is currently in full swing, and with school summer holidays set to begin at the end of July, airports are set to be teeming with crowds heading away for a holiday abroad.

However, flight cancellations and delays are also on the rise, with airports across the UK having faced problems in recent weeks.

Last week, a power outage at Manchester Airport saw some 140 flights cancelled and 90,000 passengers left in the lurch, while others had their flights delayed but arrived at their destinations only to find that their luggage had been left behind.

Gatwick, Birmingham and Liverpool Airports have all also faced heavy cancellations over the past few weeks.

With countless more flights likely to be cancelled during the remainder of the holiday season, and the next batch of those already on the horizon as hurricane Beryl continues to batter the Caribbean, thousands could be left wondering what they can do if they face delays or cancellations.

What can I do if my flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled then your airline will be responsible for finding a solution, whether this means booking you onto a new flight or issuing you with a refund.

In the case that the flight has been cancelled more than 14 days before take off, then you aren’t entitled to compensation, but will be given a refund or booked onto a new flight.

If it is cancelled with less than two weeks to go, you could get between £110 and £520 depending on the length of the flight and how long you have to wait for a replacement flight.

In order to qualify for compensation, the flight must have been cancelled for a reason that is within the control of the airline.

For example, if a pilot is late, the flight is cancelled due to under-booking or there are technical difficulties, then the airline will be at fault, and complaining passengers will be able to get compensation.

What about strike or bad weather cancellations?

If the airline does not offer you alternative transport, you have the right to book a new, significantly more expensive flight at your own expense and have the costs reimbursed by the previous airline.  Flightright legal expert Adam Johnson 

If your flight is cancelled as a result of bad weather, national employee strikes or the actions of non-airline employees, such as an air traffic controller strike, then the airline is not liable to pay you compensation.

You should be able to get compensation where it is only the airline’s employees that are on strike.

Both strikes and bad weather are considered to be extraordinary circumstances, as are air traffic issues – meaning compensation won’t be paid. 

However, in order to qualify as extraordinary, the severity of the bad weather must be beyond what could be reasonably expected by the airline.

What if my flight is delayed?

Depending on the reason for your flight’s delay, you may be able to claim compensation.

Adam Johnson, Flightright legal expert, said: ‘If your flight is delayed… you may be entitled to compensation. The airline must also provide care, including free refreshments, meals, and accommodation if necessary.’

For flights of less than 1,500km, a two-hour delay means that you will be entitled to food and drink, as well as access to phone calls and emails if you don’t have a phone or it is out of charge.

Your carrier should give you vouchers to spend within the airport, but if they don’t then it is wise to keep receipts for your expenses in order to claim these back later.

For flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, you will need a three-hour delay for these services, while a four-hour delay is needed for flights of over 3,500km.

If your delay is overnight, an airline must provide accommodation and transport to and from your hotel.

Johnson said: ‘If flight problems necessitate an overnight stay, the airline is obliged to cover hotel costs for your overnight stay. This applies if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s responsibility and results in an overnight delay.’

While the carrier will pay for your accommodation and food, they are unlikely to be willing to cover expensive hotels or meals, as these will not be deemed ‘reasonable’ expenses.

If your flight is delayed for more than five hours, you can choose not to take the flight and your airline will have to give a full refund for the flight; a refund for an onward or return flight you will no longer use, and a flight back to your original airport if you are mid-journey.

If you choose to go ahead with the flight, you could claim up to £520, depending in the length of the flight and the distance. Much like with cancellations, this will depend on whether the airline is at fault for the delay.

Will an airline pay you back if you decide to book with another carrier because of delays?

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With certain airports offering only limited flights to some destinations, your carrier might not be able to offer you a suitable replacement flight if your flight is cancelled or heavily delayed.

Johnson said: ‘If the airline cancels your flight or causes significant delays and does not offer you an alternative, you have the choice between reimbursement of the ticket price you originally paid or alternative transport provided by the airline.’

‘However, if the airline does not offer you alternative transport, you have the right to book a new, significantly more expensive flight at your own expense and have the costs reimbursed by the previous airline.’

That said, the class of the flight should be like-for-like as your carrier won’t stump up the cash for more expensive flights just because you want to choose better seats.

Will they refund your hotel costs if you don’t make your holiday due to flight problems?

Unless you booked your holiday as part of a package deal, you are unlikely to be able to get any money from your airline for the costs of your hotel or accommodation if you are unable to go ahead with your holiday.

Airlines are not liable to cover consequential costs related to your holiday. 

This also includes a loss of earnings if you return to work later than planned, something that your insurance policy is also unfortunately not likely to pay out for.

However, you may be able to recover some of your accommodation losses depending on the refund policy of your accommodation.

If you have taken out travel insurance, then you will most likely have a safety net that will cover some of what your airline won’t – though it is vital that you check what exactly your policy covers before booking it.  

What will my insurance cover when it comes to flights?

If your flight is cancelled or delayed under circumstances that are beyond your airline’s control, then it can be difficult to get compensation for the time and money you might have lost.

Helen Phipps, director at Compare the Market, said: ‘If your airline has been forced to cancel a flight because of circumstances outside of their control, then they may not be obligated to offer you compensation. 

‘In this case, it is important that you speak to your travel insurance provider as you could be able to make a claim through your policy.’

‘Insurance policies offering coverage for flight cancellations may allow you to get your money back if your flight has been delayed for over 24 hours or if it has been cancelled and the airline does not arrange an alternative flight within 24 hours. 

‘Equally for those abroad and unable to return home, some insurance policies will cover the cost of your accommodation too.

‘Insurance plays a particularly important role if your holiday is not booked as a package deal as it can cover every leg of the journey, from your flight and accommodation to pre-planned trips.’